Referee Definition

rĕfə-rē

refereed, refereeing, referees

noun

referees

A person to whom something is referred for decision.

Webster's New World

An official who enforces the rules in certain sports contests; specif., the chief official in a football game.

Webster's New World

A person appointed by a court to study, take testimony in, judge, and report on, a matter.

Webster's New World

An academic authority who examines and evaluates an article, book, etc. with regard to its fitness for publication.

Webster's New World

A person, esp. one with good credentials, given as a reference in seeking employment.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

refereed, refereeing, referees

To judge as referee.

American Heritage

To act as referee for (a game, sport, etc.) or regarding (a legal matter, scholarly article, etc.)

Webster's New World

To act as referee.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Referee

Singular:

referee

Plural:

referees

Middle English, from Old French past participle of referer (“to relate, to refer"), from Latin referre (“to carry back, to report, to notify"); as if refer +"Ž -ee, that is, the person to whom something is referred for consideration.

From Wiktionary